CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Day 1

Honours shared on day one

Australia 239 for 5

Oval, Thursday

Tranquillity prevailed on day one, in the third and final test, between Sri Lanka and Australia, where honours were shared here today. Australians winning the toss elected to bat first, were 239 for 5 at close, made in 86 overs. The Aussies could have been in a spot had the catches offered by the Waugh twins, were taken by the Sri Lankan fielders. Mark, 71, in 137 balls (with 7 fours and a 5), while Steve 70 n.o., (with 5 fours and a five, in 136 balls), in a gritty display kept the batting together on a day marred by three interruptions due to fickle weather.

Chaminda Vass the best of the Lankan pace trio, bowled his heart out to capture 3 for 56 in 26 overs on a slow pitch, ably supported by 'Pushpa' and 'Wicks'. The trio bowled 70 overs between them.

Sri Lanka's close-in fielding lapsed when Hashan Tillekeratne missed Mark Waugh on 28 _ 98 for 3. Then Kaluwitharne fluffed two leg- side catches again Waugh on 58 _ 158 for 3, then Steve, on 37 both off Wickremasingha. The twins, profited from these lapses helped Australia to a position of strength when they put on 85 runs for the fourth wicket. Wickremasinghe, who bowled stoutheartedly, finally was rewarded when Pushpakumara held a good catch at long-leg to dismiss Mark Waugh for 71 runs made in 137 balls with 6 fours, in 199 mts. Ricky Ponting joined Steve at 181 for 4. The weather really proved cruel for a test match played at the height of the summer, when rain broke through at 5.10 pm, saw the players scurrying to the pavilion with Steve on 47 and Ricky on 3.

Earlier it was David Boon, who played his penultimate test innings batted doggedly for 43 runs made in 115 balls. Boon, too survived a catch at 24. Had those catches been taken by the Sri Lankan fielders, then the Aussies should have been struggling on day one. Rain interrupted for the third time at 5.13 pm, and play commenced at 6.10 pm. The overs were reduced to 86 instead of 90.

Vaas, again struck with vengence to remove Ponting caught behind for 6. Steve, completed his 50, in 93 balls, with 3 fours. With Vaas being the tormentor, the Aussie 200 came in 72.5 overs. Healy, who joined Steve Waugh again displayed tremendous guts in his approach despite the second new ball taken. Vaas, 'Pushpa' and 'Wicks' bowled with hostility, but the pair stood firm to take the score to 239 for 5 at close, in an unbeaten stand of 43 runs for the sixth wicket. Steve was on 70 made in 136 balls, with 5 fours and a five, Healy 21 n.o., (with 2 fours, in 48 balls), will continue their good work today.

Sri Lanka is led by stand-in skipper Aravinda de Silva, in place of injured Arjuna Ranatunga, who pulled out due to his swelling injury to his finger. There were three other changes from the team that played at MCG - out Mahanama (injured), Muralideran and spinner Jayantha Silva. In - Sanjeewa Ranatunga, Kumar Dharmasena, Sanath Jayasuriya and Ravindra Pushpakumara.

The game got under way in a sensational note in the second ball in the start of the Aussie innings. Chaminda Vaas opening the attack from the Bradman Stand end had Slater caught off a beautiful inswing that took the inside edge, for a duck.

Vaas, who really troubled the Aussie batsmen, was a model of accuracy and finally was rewarded with another wicket, that of Mark Taylor, when the batsman attempted to pull a quick bouncer and took a top edge to give 'keeper Kaluwitharne a simple catch for 21 runs, made in 54 balls with a pull for six off Pushpakumara 36 for 2.

Day 2

National anthem in Adelaide

A world famous South Australian tenor will create a world 'first' for a Test cricket venue when he sings the Sri Lanka national anthem prior to the commencement of the second day's play in the third and final cricket Test between Sri Lanka and Australia .

As today (Friday) will be Australia Day, as per usual practice the two teams will line up at the Adelaide Oval prior to the commencement of the day's play to observe protocol.

Usually the Australian national anthem is sung. However, on this occasion the singer will follow the Australian national anthem with the Sri Lanka national anthem.

It will be beamed on TV and radio throughout the world.

Radley Claessen, a brilliant cricketer who played with tremendous success for Wesley College and Colts along with his wife Angela have spent some time with the singer helping him with the pronunciations.

According to them they are 'absolutely confident that it is going to be fantastic and outstanding' after having listened to a preliminary rendition of the Sri Lanka anthem sung in Sinhala.

Radley is the brother of another famous Colts cricketer Brian Claessen.

Day 2

Sri Lanka v. Australia Third Test in Adelaide:

Stave Waugh leads Australia to sound position

A determined 170 runs by Steve Waugh (in 316 balls with 13 fours and a five made in 421 mts.) helped Australia to a massive 502 for 9 dec., against Sri Lanka on day two, in the third and final test in Adelaide on Friday.

Australia, who were 239 for 5 at stumps were greatly helped by their middle-order batsmen Steve Waugh and Ian Healy, who put on 130 runs for a sixth wicket.

This stand was followed by another attractive stand between Waugh and Paul Reiffel 56 (in 124 balls, with 7 fours) his highest test score - put on 117 runs for the seventh wicket enabled Australia to score 263 runs for the loss of four wickets.

Shane Warne 33 (with 5 fours in 39 balls) and McDermott 15 n.o., further tormented the Lankan bowlers, before Taylor stopped the massacre. It was Australia's third successive score of 500 runs and over against Sri Lanka.

Again poor fielding contributed to this massacre of the innocents. Chaminda Vaas 3 for 106, Pushpakumara 2 for 126 and Wickremasinghe 3 for 120 shared the wickets.

The Australians declared at 5.07 p.m. leaving Sri Lanka with 16 overs to bat in the final session. David Boon, playing in his farewell test was afforded the opportunity of leading the team on to the field amid a standing ovation by the 17,277 crowd - a fitting tribute to an amiable cricketer, who served Aussie cricket well for 12 years.

Sri Lanka in reply to Aussie 502 for 9 dec., made in 157.3 overs, opened with Hathurusinghe and Jayasuriya (in place of injured Mahanama) started off briskly with Jayasuriya hitting out powerfully. Sanath, hammered McGrath for a great off-side six. Sri Lanka's 50, came in 8.1 overs, in 36 mts. with Sanath on 40 with six fours and six. Hathurusinghe batting sedately was on 5.

The best opening stand for a test match on this tour. The pitch playing well, both batsmen had no problem in countering the bowlers and batted on till the close to make a spirited reply 80 for no loss, in 16 overs.

Sanath Jayasuriya scored a rapid 47 in 47 balls with 7 fours and a six in 67 mts.) while Hathurusinghe who was dropped off Warne at 24, too batted with confidence to remain on 24 (3 fours made in 53 balls). Sri Lanka still need 223 runs more to save the follow-on when play begins on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Day 4

Third Cricket Test: Sri Lanka vs Australia

Bernie Wijesekera reporting from Australia

Sri Lanka still needs 332 runs with nine second innings wickets in hand when their third and final Test against Australia resumes for the final day in Adelaide on Monday.

Steve, thus playing in his third test innings against Sri Lanka has scored 131 not out in the MCC test and in this match scored 170 runs, in 316 balls made in 421 mts., in the first innings showed his ability to wait at the wicket - a temperament that showed class for a test batsman to play a long innings when runs were most required. He passed 5,000 test runs at an average of over 50. Against Sri Lanka Steve made 362 runs only once being out.

The Lankan bowlers headed by Chaminda Vaas bowled well again despite dropped catches in this innings too, to rid the Aussie top order for 86 for 4 at lunch, until Steve Waugh took control. Steve and Ian Healy pair put on 64 runs for the sixth wicket. Healy made a brisk 43 runs in 53 balls, with 3 fours. Reiffel was 14 n.o, before the declaration. Chaminda Vaas returned 3 for 44, for a match-bag of 6 for 150, in 63 overs.

Again Sri Lanka was given a flourishing start by Hathurusinghe and Jayasuriya, when they for the second time put on 50 runs between them in 87 balls. Jayasuriya batting in his own inimitable style smashed McGrath for a six and a four in one over.

The stand was broken by McGrath himself when he had Hathurusinghe caught behind for 14 made in 46 balls with 2 fours. Jayasuriya on the look out for quick runs hit Warne too for a six and a four and in the next over smashed Warne for a 4 past point to reach his 50 in 56 balls (with 6 fours and two sixes in 86 mts).

At close Sri Lanka was 69 for 1 in 231 overs. Sri Lanka still needs 3332 to win in 90 overs when play begins on Monday, with 9 wickets intact. Jayasuriya 50 n.o., and Gurusinghe 2.

Only two teams in the history of the game have won a test chasing 400 runs in the fourth innings.

To achieve this it should be with better application and concentration by the top order, as the pitch still look good for batting. According to Steve Waugh the Adelaide pitch is the best test pitch in Australia.

Day 5

Australia complete 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka

ADELAIDE, Jan 29 - All-rounder Steve Waugh deepened Sri Lanka's despondency at the end of a troubled tour by steering Australia to a crushing win in the third and final Test on Monday.

Waugh claimed four crucial wickets as the tourists lost their last eight batsmen for 57 runs to sink to defeat by 148 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

Chasing a daunting victory target of 401, Sri Lanka were dismissed for 252 in 96.2 overs in their second innings, tumbling to their third successive heavy loss against Mark Taylor's side.

Sri Lanka, whose tour has been beset with controversy since their arrival in mid-November, finally succumbed during the final session after resisting tenaciously earlier in the day.

Australia's veteran number three batsman David Boon, playing his 107th and final test match before retiring, was hugged by jubilant teammates at the end of the game. Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya earlier raised his side's hopes of salvaging a draw with his maiden test century before losing his wicket to Waugh's medium pace.

Jayasuriya departed for 112 after edging a catch to wicketkeeper Ian Healy to leave Sri Lanka on 195 for three midway through the afternoon session.

Although the third test lacked the controversy of the earlier encounters in Perth and Melbourne, Australia proved equally dominant.

Waugh, who scored a century and an unbeaten half-century earlier in the match, also broke the resistance of Sanjeeva Ranatunga for 65 in his first over after tea.

Bowling for the first time in the series after suffering a succession of injuries, Waugh added to his tally with the wickets of wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana for nought and off-spinner Kumar Dharmasena for two.

Waugh finished with figures of four for 34 from 19 overs, while fast bowler Glenn McGrath contributed three for 48.

Resuming on 69 for one, Sri Lanka defied Australia before lunch when Jayasuriya and Ranatunga combined in a tenacious thirdwicket partnership worth 125 runs.

Jayasuriya, who started the day on 50, shed his natural exuberance on Monday during an innings lasting four-and-a-half hours. The lefthander hit two sixes and 14 fours, carving into the attack during the final session on Sunday before adopting a more circumspect and patient approach on the final day.

Australia, who scored a formidable 502 for nine declared, set Sri Lanka a target after Australia captain Taylor declared the second innings at 215 for six on Sunday.

Sri Lanka scored 317 all out in their first innings to avoid the follow-on.

The first test between the two countries was marred when Sri Lanka were found guilty and then exonerated of ball tampering. Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was no-balled for throwing during the second test in Melbourne, overshadowing a second successive crushing victory by Australia.